Cigarette holder



NOV. 21, 1933. G HALAPLEUS 1,936,431

C IGARET'IE HOLDER Filed April 14, 1932 Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNITED stares Parent-- Mme CIGARETTE HOLDER James George Halaplcus, Toledo, Ohio ApplicationApril 14, 1932. Serial No. 605,158 1 Claim. (Cl. 131 -51) This invention relates to cigarette holders, and an object is to produce a simple and inexpensive cigarette holder having the new and improved features of construction and arrangement hereinafter described.

For purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown on the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of a cigarette holder embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of another form of holder;

Figure 3 is a perspective View of a still further form which is adapted to fit a finger for more convenient handling of the cigarette; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another form of holder in which a band is slidable on the arms to hold the clamping elements together.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises a one-piece sheet metal member 10 having a pair of opposed elongate cigarette clamping elements 11 which are arcuately shaped in order snugly to embrace a cigarette C. The elements 11 so clamp the cigarette that it is substantially closed throughout its circumference. This enables the lighted end of the cigarette to be covered and thus smother it when desired and in this manner the holder may also serve as an extinguisher so that thecigarette may be set down lighted without fire hazard.

Extending downwardly from each of the clamping elements 11 is an integral arm 12, in this instance connected at opposite ends of the elements 11 to permit the arms to cross each other as indicated at 13. The lower ends of the arms 12 are enlarged as indicated at 14 to provide a suitable handle which may be grasped by the user, substantially as shown. The lower ends of the enlarged portions 14 of the arms are integrally connected by a portion 15.

By crossing the arms in the manner indicated, the cigarette clamping elements 11 may be separated or moved away from each other to receive or discharge a cigarette by slight pressure on the portions 14 of the arms. Obviously this may be accomplished with but a minimum handling of the cigarette so as to avoid objectionable staining of hands. The holder is preferably made of spring metal so that the arms automatically return to cigarette-clamping or holding position,

Relatively thin auge metal is desirable to reduce the weight of the holder and provide a neat and attractive appearance. Manifestly the size and shape of the parts of the holder may be varied, and materials other than metal may be used to advantage.

As shown in Fig. 2, the arms 12' may be made straight and to open the arms to receive or discharge a cigarette, they are spread apart. This can be easily accomplished since the spring of the metal is relatively light enabling the arms to be spread apart without dimculty. Just enough clamping force to hold a cigarette from being released accidentally, is desirable.

To enable the holder to be handled more easily, particularly by ladies, the lower end of the arms be curved substantially to form a ring 16, as shown in Fig. 3. This enables the holder to be slipped over a finger and held or carried in that manner.

The cigarette-clamping elements 11' shown in this figure are each provided with an elongate rib 17 on the outer side. This enables the holder to be placed on a table or elsewhere without danger of burning or otherwise harming the surface since the clamping elements which may be hot are spaced away therefrom. Insteadof ribs, knobs, spurs or the like may be used, the requirement being to space the body of the clamps slightly away from the supporting surface.

As shown, the cigarette may be gripped between the ends in any desired place, but, if desired, the unlighted end may be clamped and one end of the clamps 11 used as a mouth piece for smoking. It

is further to be noted that the holder may be supported with the clamps vertically disposed with the lighted end of the cigarette uppermost. This may be desirable particularly where an ash tray 1 is not conveniently accessible.

Figure 4 shows a form of holder somewhat similar to Figure 2, in which the arms 12 are normally spread apart. Encircling the arms is a band 18, which is slidable on the arms, and when the band is slid upwardly the clamping elements 11 are moved together to clamp the cigarette. It will be seen that the sides of the arms 12 are tapered, as indicated at 19, to eifect the desired action. The cigarette clamping elements 11 are preferably longer than the similar elements above described, and a bead 20 may be provided on one end of each arm and extending at substantially right angles to said arms, said cigarette-engaging portions adapted to abut each other so as to merge into an unbroken surface, a substantially circular handle portion in the inner ends of said arms, the axis of said handle portion being parallel to the axis of said semi-cylindrical portions, and a longitudinally elongate fin on the outer side of each semi-cylindrical portion arranged in diametrically opposed relation to each other and having its ends spaced from the ends of said semicylindrical portions.

JAMES GEORGE HALAPLEUS. 

